Fox Hollow Café & Shoppe now serving customers in Dorchester

Rich Palzewic

Staff

February 2, 2026

DORCHESTER – Coffee, pastries and a sprinkle of charm: that’s the vibe Owner Sarah Mitzner said she aims to provide at Fox Hollow Café & Shoppe – which officially opened last fall.

Tucked in between Medford and Abbotsford in the Village of Dorchester – a village of about 850 residents in Marathon and Clark counties – Mitzner said Fox Hollow offers coffee drinks, light breakfast and lunch items, pastries and boutique finds in a relaxed setting.

Located just off Highway 13 at 761 E. Business County Road A, Mitzner said the desire to find a brick-and-mortar location to open her own business goes back about a year.

“Finally, my husband and I just said, ‘Let’s do it,’” she said. “We were always going to find an excuse not to open something, but the truth is, I’ve always wanted to own my own business. Ever since I watched my dad own his own business, I wanted to as well.”

Having the desire to open a business is one thing, but Mitzner said making it happen is another entirely.
“We knew it needed to be the perfect location – something to set us apart,” she said. “I also knew I wanted a drive-thru, so I needed a space that could accommodate that as well.”

Finding the perfect location

Mitzner said the idea for a brick-and-mortar shop first came up while talking with a co-worker.

“She said, ‘Have you thought about the old Domine [Automotive Center] building off 13?’” she said. “I checked out the building, and it needed a lot of work – it was a used car dealership. The builder and I had the same vision, so we worked together. It probably took about six months before we were able to get it up and running. Dorchester is a nice community, and the location gets a lot of traffic.”

Mitzner said the remodel was essentially a complete overhaul – turning the former garage into a cozy lounge.

“We knocked out a wall, insulated and put up a beautiful stainless steel wall and an accent wooden wall,” she said. “We also had to redo the bathroom. Because it was an old car dealership, there was no existing kitchen, so we had to put in all new plumbing, electrical and a smaller kitchen – it works for us. It basically looks like a brand-new place.”

When patrons come into Fox Hollow, Mitzner said they can’t believe it’s the same building.

“They are amazed,” she laughed. “Even the outside has a totally new look. You can see before and after pictures on Facebook and a transition video.”

Mitzner said a great location was only part of the equation – there also needed to be a demand for what Fox Hollow offers.
“There really wasn’t a coffee shop nearby,” she said. “There is a boutique in the next town over, but it’s not the same idea as what I offer. The other spot is more of a clothing boutique. Instead of a traditional boutique, I would estimate about 95% of the stuff in Fox Hollow is made either by local people or in the State of Wisconsin.”

With a drive-thru, Mitzner said, Fox Hollow offers a convenience locals otherwise have to drive 20 minutes north to Medford to find.
“I know the other drive-thru coffee in Medford is a franchise, so I think people in this area really like to support locals – that benefits me also,” she said. “With our coffee being locally roasted, I think it tastes just a little bit better than gas station coffee.”

The inspiration behind Fox Hollow

Though she wouldn’t describe herself as a huge baker/chef, Mitzner said she would often bake and cook for her friends and family.

“I’d always bake and bring stuff to work, and people would say how amazing it was,” she said. “I always come up with crazy flavors and concoctions, and most of the time, it works. My husband always really liked the sandwiches I would whip up as well. My husband was the one who told me I should combine the coffee/food with a boutique-style shop.”

Mitzner said all the elements of Fox Hollow come together seamlessly.
“When you walk in, right away, there’s the bakery case and the counter where you order your food,” she said. “The entire sales floor is filled with boutique items. There are men’s items, too.”

Visitors pass through the sales floor to reach the lounge, a space Mitzner said she designed to be cozy and inviting.
“It’s all comfortable seating, and we have a couple of couches, tables and some games as well,” she said. “A lot of people will grab a game and have fun. I love hearing the laughter because people just sit there for hours playing games. We have a TV as well that we put on good, nostalgic TV.”

Mitzner said Fox Hollow sources its ingredients for its food options locally whenever possible.

“We try to keep our prices fair but also try to give substance as well,” she said. “Our portions are large – everyone loves that. I hear people say they come in here and get a breakfast burrito, and it also sets them up for lunch, too.”

Mitzner said Fox Hollow recently added online ordering as well.

“You can now order your favorite drinks and treats ahead of time and pick them up with ease with our online ordering,” she said.

So far, Mitzner said in the few months she’s been open, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Our regulars love that we’re open early,” she said. “We’re open [from] 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ve increased our hours a little bit based on community feedback. People love that we’re open early for them to get here before going to work.”

An inspired name

The name “Fox Hollow,” Mitzner said, was inspired in part by her daughter’s fondness for foxes.
“It was originally going to be ‘Badgers Borough’ because we live in the Badger State, and everything in there is made in Wisconsin,” she said. “Something happened where we couldn’t use that name anymore, but I wanted to stick with an animal theme.”

Mitzner credits a visit to Marshfield’s Wildwood Zoo as the moment she came up with the name.

“As we were just standing there looking at the foxes, the name ‘Fox Hollow’ clicked in my head,” she said. “After I told my builder that, he said he actually spotted a fox in the field right next to our location, so we felt like that was a sign.”

For more on Fox Hollow Café & Shoppe, find it on Facebook or Instagram.